Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar will travel to the Rio Olympics after being invited by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach along with other eminent global personalities.
Tendulkar, who is an Indian Olympic Association goodwill ambassador, will leave for the Brazillian city on August 2 and also meet the Indian contingent during his trip.
“This will be Tendulkar’s first visit to the Olympics games. He would be leaving for Rio de Janeiro on 2 August, during his visit he would also be meeting the Indian contingent to wish them well for the games,” a source close to Tendulkar said.
“Sachin recently visited the government hospital in Mumbai to get a yellow fever vaccination which is mandatory for countries like Brazil,” he added.
Tendulkar, who underwent a knee surgery in London recently, is expected to be reasonably fit to travel to Rio and is keen to go there to support Team India.
His trip to Rio comes amid speculation that cricket could be included in the 2024 Games roster.
In his role as goodwill ambassador with the IOA, Tendulkar met the Rio-bound Indian wrestling contingent — comprising Narsingh Yadav, Vinesh Phogat, Babita Kumari, Sakshi Malik, Ravinder Khatri, and Hardeep — and also posted videos on his facebook page, profiling the athletes who have qualified for the Games.
Tendulkar is also an active member of the Parliament’s upper house — the Rajya Sabha.